ENGAGEMENT

We strive to demonstrate the impact that dramatic writing can have on the community. Our outreach efforts include benefit performances, audience talkbacks, and other events that serve the public and groups in need.

Storytellers’ Stage Programming
Waterloo Arts Fest June 24, 2017

For the 2017 Waterloo Arts Fest, Playwrights Local curated and underwrote a full day’s worth of programming on the Storytellers’ Stage, and produced a return performance by Fest favorites StarDrop Circus.

The lineup of this year’s storytellers included Oluremi Oliver andDeborah Wright of the Cleveland Association of Black Storytellers, Wandering Aesthetics, Donna Willingham, Allie Theiss,Carol Weakland, Gail Nyoka, and Rachel Baird. The closing set by Story Club/Literary Cleveland was hosted by Dana Norris and included stories from Ian Whippie, Lawrence Solomon, and Diane Ferri.

Storyteller Gail Nyoka (Photo by Emanuel Wallace, Scene)

Storyteller Donna Willingham (Photo by Alex Darus, Cleveland.com)

Storyteller Carol Weakland (Photo by Alex Darus, Cleveland.com)

StarDrop Aerial Circus (Photo by Alex Darus, Cleveland.com)

Bitter BierceJudson Manor BallroomApril 11, 2017

On April 11, 2017, Playwrights Local performed a free outreach performance of its production of Mac Wellman’s Bitter Bierce at Judson Manor, Cleveland’s venerable senior and assisted living home.

Thanks to Bill Corcoran for his help with coordinating this event.

Judson Manor in Cleveland

Brian Pedaci as Ambrose Bierce

Dispatches from ClevelandCleveland International Film Festival (CIFF41)March 31/April 1, 2017

Playwrights Local was proud to serve as a “Community Partner” or sponsor for the world premiere of filmmaker Catherine Gund’s Dispatches from Cleveland (2017), a documentary examining race relations and police use of force in our city.

Combining five shorter documentary segments, Dispatches from Cleveland focuses on ordinary Clevelanders who have been shaken by police misconduct, social discrimination, and poverty. Produced by Aubin Pictures, the film depicts intersecting movements in Cleveland and examines how residents’ love for their hometown pushes them to work together to bring about real change in one of the most racially divided cities in America.

The tireless and inspiring Jan Ridgeway asked us to bring our “community response” to the Tamir Rice shooting, Objectively/Reasonable, to the Garden Valley Neighborhood House in Cleveland. Garden Valley is a food bank, education and training center, and gathering place in one of the city’s most economically challenged areas. We were pleased to present a benefit performance in the facility’s Phoenix Theater.

For the 2016 Waterloo Arts Fest, Playwrights Local curated and underwrote a days’ worth of programming on the Kids’ Stage. This was our way of giving back to our host organization, Waterloo Arts, and to the North Collinwood neighborhood.

2016 was the 14th annual production of the amazing, always-free Fest. Find info on the artists, bands, craftspeople, food trucks, and sponsors in the official program.

DGF Writers Alliance Grant

Playwrights Local and playwright Christopher Johnston are proud to be among the recipients of the 2018/2019 Dramatists Guild Foundation’s Writers Alliance Grants. This grant provides $5,000 to the playwright and $5,000 to the company for the premiere of “Live Bodies for Sale,” a new documentary play on the human trafficking crisis in Ohio opening in November 2019. We can’t thank the Foundation enough for this amazing support! Click here for more info!